Compass suggestions?

[kito]

My flush mount Edson pedestal compass is cracked and leaking oil. I'm looking for a replacement that has a 6 inch flange and a 4 inch dial. I have my eye on a Ritchie Navigation HF743. Not looking for an expensive one. I would appreciate any good inexpensive compass suggestions.

 

[woodster]

is it a ritchie sp5 if so have it rebuilt there are companeys that do that sort of thing and the bring it up to date with led light and all

 

[kito]

Good to know that Woodster. Not sure what brand it is but sure it's the 1979 original. I will check around......

 

[smokey73]

If a Ritchie you can send it back directly to them for rebuild. They will put in new updated fluid and led for a very reasonable price. Not sure what they would charge for the dome though? I sent mine in and they turned it around very quickly. If its Ritchie it should say somewhere on the dial. They are very common on sailboats, probably the norm.

 

[Pat]

Our Ritchie compass had a badly crazed/cracked lens and the fluid might have been leaking, but I sent it to a company in NE that repaired them and they sent it back to me fully repaired with no charges very quickly. Very impressive customer service.

 

[ggrizzard]

Pat, Was it the OEM factory? Or, who did it free?

 

[kito]

Yes Pat....please share. I emailed Richie Navigation and got no reply. I believe they are in NE. Maybe they are closed for MLK day.

 

[Chris & Lenore]

Ritchie will definitely get back to you - they have excellent customer service.
They are also less expensive than any of the "authorized repIr depots" that I talked to - especially parts.

Speaking of parts, my Ritchie Navigator was leaking plus the plastic was crazed and cracked.
I bought the parts from Ritchie (seal kit, globe and bezel, O rings) and easily repaired it myself.

For fluid I used "odourless paint thinner" (NOT regular thinner or anything else) from Home Depot. Kept it in a freezer overnight to prevent air bubbles.
Bottom line is that the compass looks brand new, doesn't leak, has no air bubbles and performed exactly like it used to.
I think I spent about $120 (bezel was the most expensive part).

Food for thought...

Chris

 

[kito]

Richie got back to me yesterday. I had to send them pictures since the model number was not readable. My Richie compass was an old model that hasn't been made since 1984 and they no longer have parts. They suggested a FN-201 and will fit with no adapters. I found a slightly used one for dirt cheap.

 

[Jackdaw]

Richie got back to me yesterday. I had to send them pictures since the model number was not readable. My Richie compass was an old model that hasn't been made since 1984 and they no longer have parts. They suggested a FN-201 and will fit with no adapters. I found a slightly used one for dirt cheap.

That's amazing customer service. 1984! Betcha Ren McCormick can't get parts for his Sony Walkman either.

 

[kito]

That's amazing customer service. 1984! Betcha Ren McCormick can't get parts for his Sony Walkman either.

Actually they do have parts in stock to fix older compasses.......just not for my FN-0 model.

 

[Chris & Lenore]

I have the FN-201 and its a great compass. I ordered a new binnacle/pedestal mount from Richie. They had a "second" that they sold me for about $50. When it arrived, i could not see any imperfection at all. It's always worth asking is they have "seconds" in stock.

Chris

 

[kito]

I have the FN-201 and its a great compass. I ordered a new binnacle/pedestal mount from Richie. They had a "second" that they sold me for about $50. When it arrived, i could not see any imperfection at all. It's always worth asking is they have "seconds" in stock.

Chris

View attachment 84192

Dang, wish I knew that yesterday. Their CS didn't volunteer that info when talking to them yesterday. I found one on Ebay that a guy bought at an estate sale that was still in the original box for $56 though.